Pneumatic cushioning device



July 6, 1937. H D, SM1-m 2,086,480

PNEUMATIC CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1956` 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N EN 'vom .Herschel JJ. Smil'lz 7 FIG- F F1018- l BY ATT N EY July 6, 1937.H. D. sMlTH A 2,085,480

PNEUMATIC CUSHIONING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. Q

l0 l L O O 00o 00o Q O 415 4f? 215 FIG 45 4z\45 INVENTOR 'ATTRNEYPatented July 6, 1937 FFIQE FNEUMAE@ CUSHHNENG DEVICE AppiicationFebruary 20, i936, Serial No. 64,344

i2 Claims.

This invention relates to an air cushioning device which can be used totake the place of springs and is a continuation-in-part oi myapplication Ser. No. 736,536, filed July 23, 1934, for Pneumaticautomobile springs, issued February 25, 1936, Ser. No. 2,031,862.

This invention relates to a resilient pneumatic structure to take theplace of springs, as in a chair, and particularly to means forresiliently supporting the body of a vehicle on its axles in place ofthe present metal springs. IShe pneumatic structure in this invention isof the type of a closed vessel for holding air and connected to tworelatively moving parts, one oi said parts connected to an outerenclosing casing and the other of said parts connected. through apartition in said vessel whereby the cushioning elect between saidrelatively moving parts is accomplished by displacing said partition inrelation to the outer wall of said vessel.

One object of the present invention is to provide resilient supportingor suspension means for bodies which will function quietly in a oatingmanner and having no metal to meta-l contact does away with squeakswhile requiring no lubrication.

Another object is to provide a pneumatic spring support, the resilienceoi which can be varied at will.

Another object is to provide pneumatic means for springing and carryinga vehicle body and absorbing shocks and vibration while providing bodystability. i

Other objects will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification:

Figure l is a front elevation oi my improved pneumatic cushioning deviceas assembled with an air container in its casing and a spindle throughsaid air container.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my device as in Fig. 1 and showing aportion of an angle iron or channel in section to which the casing ofsaid device is fastened.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3-3 of Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line 1l-fl of Figs. l and 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan on line G- oi Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 'l-'l of Fig. 8, of onehalf of a spool, saidcomplete spool shown assembled on a spindle in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an end View of. the one-half spool of Fig. '2.

9 is a plan of an automobile chassis with one side frame member cut awayat the iront axle and at the rear axle to show my pneumatic cushioningdevice as mounted in pairs to take the place of the ordinary springs.Also showing an air gauge and air connections for inflating the separatecushioning devices equally.

Fig. l0 is a side elevation of an automobile chassis with my devicesinstalled as in Fig. 9 and section on line l--lil of Fig. 9.

Fig; 1l is a side elevation oi a car truck to illustrate a method ofinstalling my cushioning device.

Fig. l2 is a side elevation of a chair to illustrate a method ofinstalling my cushioning device.

13 is a plan oi a yoke 'for connecting my cushioning device in pairs toan axle.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the yoke as in Fig. 13.

My pneumatic cushioning device as a whole consists of a resilient aircontainer enclosed in an outer metal casing and while this device isadapted to be used in various ways to cushion the movement of a movingpart in relation to a xed part it will rst be described as being appliedto an automobile, and being interposed between the automobile frame andaxle the said outer metal casing is attached to the automobile frame andthe air container connected to the axle by means of. a spindle extendingthrough an interna] partition. It is to be understood that the inventionis not to be limited to the uses here shown because it is adapted toresiliently support and absorb shocks between any two relatively movingparts, and one or more of the devices are employed to suit conditions.

Referring to the drawings, A is my cushioning device as a whole, and lthe air container which is preferably made of rubber or of rubber andfabric. lt will be understood that any suitable resilient material canbe used in place of the rubber. The air container l as shown is a closedvessel and preferably of an elliptical shape as in Fig. 3 with a wall ofsubstantially even thickness and somewhat attened front and rear at 2, 2as in Fig, 4, but it is to be understood that this shape may be variedto suit conditions.

At or about one third of the distance from the bottom of the aircontainer l is provided a horizontal partition 3 having a hole ltherethrough for mounting on a spool 5, 5 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thecomplete spool is made up of two similar halves, each designated as 5,and each half 5 as detailed in Figs. 7 and 8. Each half 5 is keyed to aspindle 6 by means of a key I and the keyway in 5 (Figs. 'l and 8) isindicated by 7.

On the body of each half spool 5 are lugs 8, 8 extending from the flange9 toward the end Ill. These lugs 8 and S are shaped like keys and mayextend from flange I) to end I and nt into suitable recesses or keywaysin the partition 3 so the air container I can prevent any tendency ofthe spindle 6 and spool 5, 5 to turn and soabsorb any torque developedin driving the car. The end shifting of the spindle S is prevented bythe flanges 9 and 9 on spool 5, 5.

The partition 3 is enlarged near the center into a boss Il to allow forthe hole therethrough.

-As shown in Fig. 3 the partition 3 is thickest at its connection to thecontainer wall and tapers towards the boss II. In Figs. and 6 it will benoted that the partition 3 is connected to the container wall where theboss II contacts with the attened portions 2 and 2 and at right anglesthereto as at the contact lines I2 and I2. This leaves openings I 3, I3,I3 and I 3 where the partition 3 is not fastened to or is not continuouswith the container wall. The partition 3 being separated from thecontainer wall near the boss II by the four openings I3 allows a freermovement of said partition by means of the spindle through said boss II.The openings I3 also allow for the movement of air from the upperchamber III to the lower chambers I5, I5 and vice versa.

From the bottom of boss II extends a vertical partition I6 to the bottomwall of container I to form the two chambers I5, I5. Fig. 4 shows thatthe partition I5 is separated from the container wall by openings Il,I'I extending downward from near the boss. I! to allow air to circulatebetween chambers I5 and I 5 and to allow for the free movement of theboss II in relation to the wall of the container I.

In Figs. 1 and 2 outside views of a casing I3 and cover IQ to enclosethe air container I are shown, said bottom cover I9 fastened to thecasing I8 in any convenient manner yfor assembling or removing saidcontainer I. Fastened to the top of casing I8 is -a bracket 2l) as ameans of attaching my cushioning device to the frame of an automobile,car truck, etc., represented by 2l in Figure 2.

22 is a tube connected into the container I (Figs. 2 and 4) for llingthe chambers III and I5 with air to the amount of pressure desired. IThetube 22 can be in the form of a valve stem for each of my devices Aseparately or when connected in multiple can be in the form of a tube toallow the air to circulate and maintain a common pressure between two ormore devices A on a car. Tube 22 extends from chamber It through thecasing I8 and bracket 2B where shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

In the wall of the container I and at points adjacent to the connectionof partitions 3 and i6 with said wall (see Fig. 3) are imbedded ormolded nat head metal studs or chaplets 23, each chaplet having athreaded stud 2!!- to project through the casing I8 and by means of awasher 25 and nut 2&5 hold the container I stationary and in contactwith said casing I8 at the points opposite the partitions 3 and I 6. Thestud 2i where it extends through the casing I8 is eni cased in a rubbertit 21 extending from the container I.

In the front elevation of my device as shown in Fig. l it will be seenthat the movement of the spindle Ei and spool ange 9 is allowed for by agreater space 28 between the ange 9 and the casing I8 than the space 25between the flange 9 and cover Iii as the weight of the car is carriedby air in the upper chamber III while the rebound of the car is snubbedby air in the lower chambers I5. The movement of the spindle IS up inrelation to the casing Iii will raise the partition 3 and compress theair in chamber I4 so the front and rear walls 2 and 2 will be distendedthrough the front and rear openings 3i) in casing I5 and the air inchamber Ibi forced through the openings I i in partition 3 into chambersI5.

In this raising of spindle 6 the horizontal partition 3 will bestretched but the walls of the container I opposite the partition 3 areprevented from being pulled away from the casing I8 by the imbeddedchaplets 23. The bottom of the wall of the container I opposite thevertical partition I@ is also held to the casing cover I9 by an imbeddedchaplet 23 when the said vertical partition I E is stretched by theupward movement of spindle 6. In the downward movement of spindle 6 thepartition i6 is compressed as well as the -air in chambers I5 and theair is then forced up into chamber I I through openings I3 while thefront and rear portions of container below flange 9 are distendedthrough the front and rear openings 3i in the casing I3.

To properly confine the container I in the casing I8 and give sidestability of a car body in relation to the wheels and axles the casingI8 and cover I9 where joined extend nearly around container I oppositethe spindle 6 and form stops 3?: against which the ange Il of spool 5can abut in case of any excessive forward and backward movement of saidspindle 5 in relation to the casing I8. The container I is molded `at toenclose the spool flange 9 and so form a rubber contact for stops 32.The side stability of the axle in relation to the car frame is takencare of by the flanges S of the spool 5, 5 acting on the partition 3 andthe stops 32 enclosing the casing I8 opposite said partition. Hence thepartition S while serving to divide the air container I intocompartments is also particularly a stabilizing support.

In a driving or braking effort the spindle i3 will move forward orbackward against thek partition 3, compressing one part and stretchingthe other part and the vertical partition I5 acts on the air in one ofthe chambers I 5. Where deemed necessary other partitions extending fromthe boss II can be inserted to obtain the desired amount of driving andbraking effect and also a springing and snubbing eiect and torqueabsorber.

The construction and location of partition 3 reduces undesirable forwardand backward movement in driving and braking the car and the side thrustin turning, while leaving the up and down movement practically free tospring the car weight and snub its rebound. On account of the floatingof the spindle, and hence the axle, carried by the partition in mycushioning device, shocks are absorbed from any direction whenencountered.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10 my cushioning device A is preferably shownto be installed on an automobile in pairs, i. e. two of the A devicesreplace the ordinary half elliptic spring, orfour pairs to a car and thetwo pairs on the rear axle act the same as a Hotchkiss drive, i. e.driving through the cushioning device A while absorbing the drivingtorque.

Using a pair ofthe devices 75 Alas shown attached to an axle reduces thesize which would be necessary if only one centered on the axle were usedand they form a couple to more efciently absorb the driving torque.

On each side memberv of a frame 2| where it crosses the front axle 3ftand the rear axle 35, a pair of casings i8 is attached, one of said pairin iront of an axle and one in the rear of said axle. An axle isconnected to a pair of air containers in the casing by means of a yoke36 located on and attached to an axle in place of the usual spring. Theyoke 3B has a pair of spindles 6 on which a spool 5, 5 is mounted forholding the air container i as detailed in Figs. l to 4. In Figs. 1B and14 is shown the yoke 35 with its pair of spindles 6 and 6.

The air container of each device A can be separately inated or as shownin Figs. 9 and 10 can I be inflated from a single valve as 3l in the airline 38 connecting the different devices A, and the pressure shown on agauge 39 on the instrument board d.

The usual rubber bumpers (not shown) between the axles Sii and and frame2l can be used to support the frame on an axle in case of the deflationof an air container from any cause or from excessive movement of the carbody in reference to the axles.

The downward thrust of the weight of a car on vmy cushioning device willact through the casing i8 on top of the air container l on the air inthe chamber i4 and will be opposed by the upward supporting thrust ofthe axlel through the spindle ii to react by means of the partition 3 onsaid air. An upward thrust of the car axle as caused by a wheel hittingan obstruction on the road will flex the partition 3 upward and stretchthe partition l@ and compress the air in the chamber I4 to carry the carbody upward and at the same time forcing air into the lower chambers i5,I5 through the opening I3. When the axle and body separate the partition3 is flexed downward and partition l@ compressed to force air fromchambers l5, l5 into chamber lli. The greater load of car and passengersis resiliently supported by the air in the larger upper chamber I4 andthe lesser load, as rebound of the axle, is taken care of by the air inthe smaller lower chamber.

In Fig. l1 is shown a railway carriage truck in which il is the frame towhich is attached a pair of my cushioning devices A. 42 is the wheel,and i3 the wheel bearing box which slides in the groove it of the guide45. A support 46 resting on the front and rear wheel bearing boxes 43supports a yoke 35 with the spindles 5 and '5 to obtain the cushioningaction of the railway truck frame di on the wheels Li2 through the aircontainer in the devices A and A the same as described for theautomobile. In Fig. l2 the air cushioning device is shown in which asingle unit A is used on each side of a vehicle chair lil. In this casethe device A is shown as having the elliptical shape of the containerand casing horizontal .and as being inverted i. e. the casing i8attached to the floor and the chair supported through the partition 3 inthe air container by means of the spindle i3 as detailed in Figs. I to8. The chair il is resiliently supported by means of an air container oneach side thereof and said chair can be tilted back and resilientlysupported by the action of the spindle 6 and spool 5, 5 in the partition3, through the keys 1, 'l and lugs 8, 8 (Figs. 3 and 4).

It will be noted that the torque of the spindle 6 in the case of thechair with single units A is resisted by the twisting of the partitionsin container I while the torque of the rear axle of an automobile whereunits 'A are used in pairs as shown applied in Figs. 9 and 10 isresisted principally by the direct compression and extension of theVertical partition I6 as well as the action of the horizontal partition3 on the air in the chambers.

If we assume the automobile body maintains a constant level with theroad and it therefore is a so-called xed part and the wheels hittingobstructions or dropping into depressions in the road, then the axlesare the so-called moving part and my cushioning device being fastened tothe fixed part by an inclosing casing, the moving part acts on the airin container through moving the horizontal partition up and down tocompress said air in an upper or lower chamber and said moving partstretches or compresses a vertically disposed partition.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A pneumatic spring for vehicles comprising a 4casing and cover, meansto attach said casing to a vehicle frame, a resilient air container insaid casing and cover comprising an upper large chamber and a smalllower chamber, a partition between said chambers and below the center ofsaid container, means to form an air passage between said upper andlower chambers and means in said partition extend- "1 ing transverselythrough said container to connect said spring to the axle of saidvehicle.

2. A pneumatic cushioning device comprising an air container having asealed wall of iiexible material, means to connect the wall of saidcon-iA tainer to one of two relatively moving parts, a partition ofiiexible material separating said container into chambers, means toconnect the other of said two relatively moving parts into saidpartition through said Wall, said partition separated from said wallnext to said means connecting the moving part to said partition wherebya portion of said partition may be displaced in relation to saidcontainer wall.

3. A pneumatic cushioning device comprising sealed walls of flexiblematerial, a partition of flexible material separating said device intochambers, and a boss as a portion of said partition extending acrosssaid device and attached to opposite walls, said partition separatedfrom said walls next to said boss whereby the said walls attached tosaid boss are free to ex and move with said boss when said partition isflexed.

4. In a device of the character described, a

resilient air container, a partition of flexible material separatingsaid container into chambers, casing means to attach said container toone of two relatively movable parts, a spindle to attach said partitionto the other of two relatively movable parts, and chaplet means toattach said container to said casing.

5. In a device of the character described, a resilient air container, ahorizontal partition to separate said container into an upper chamberand a lower chamber, means to attach said container to a vehicle frame,means through said horizontal partition to attach said partition to theaxle of said vehicle, a second partition at an angle to and between saidhorizontal partition and the wall of said container whereby the up anddown movement of said axle and the attached horizontal partition willalternately compress and extend said second partition.

6. A pneumatic spring for vehicles comprising a pair of closed resilientair containers, each of said containers having a casing and meanstoattach said casing to the frame of said vehicle, each of saidcontainersy divided into chambers by a exible partition, a yokeconnected to the axle of said vehicle and having a spindle for thepartition of each of said air containers, flange means on said spindlesto stabilize the side thrust of said axle and stop means on said casingto enclose the container in line with said partition and spindle.

'7. In a device of the character described to cushion the movement of amovable part in relation to a stationary part, a resilient aircontainer, a partition separating said container into chambers, means toattach said container to said stationary part and means extendingtransversely off-center to said movable part to attach said movable partto said partition whereby the torque of said movable part is absorbed bysaid` device.

8. In a device oi the character described to cushion the movement of amovable part in relation to a stationary part, a resilient aircontainer, a partition separating said container into chambers, casingmeans to attach said container to said stationary part, means throughsaid partition to attach said partition to said movable part and sidestabilizing means on said casing means to absorb the side movement ofsaid movable part.

9. A pneumatic spring for vehicles comprising a pair of air containers,each of said containers having means to attach said container to theframe of said vehicle, each container divided into chambers by ahorizontal and a vertical partition, means to connect said containers inpairs to the axles of said vehicle through the partitions of each ofsaid containers, whereby the 10. In a device to cushion the movement ofa" movable part in relation to a stationary part, a resilient aircontainer having side walls, a boss extending through said container andattached to said walls, casing means to attach said container to saidstationary part, means extending through said boss to connect with saidmovable part, means on said boss connection to act on said container in.a side movement of said movable part and means on said casing to act onsaid container to check the side movement of said movable part.

11. In a device to cushion the movement of two relatively movable parts,an air container having walls, a boss extending through said containerand attached to opposite walls, casing means to attach said container toone of said movable parts, means to connect said container through saidboss to the other of said movable parts, stop means on said casing andresilient means on said boss connecting means to engage said casing stopmeans. v

12. In a device to cushion the movement of two relatively movable parts,a resilient air container, partition means to separate said containerinto air chambers, means to inflate said chambers, means to attach saidcontainer to one of said movable parts and means to attach saidpartition means to the other of said movable parts whereby the movementof said parts toward and away from each other is absorbed by the air insaid container, and means on each of said movable parts whereby the sidedisplacement of said movable parts is absorbed by said container.

HERSCHEL D. SMITH.

